Baby Back Ribs

[SlowSpyder]

I've made ribs a number of times before, sometimes they turn out good, sometimes ok. So help me ATOT, you're my only hope.

In the past I've baked the ribs at a low heat for ~3 hours, maybe around 200F. I'll usually put some apple cider in the pan with the ribs, and some kind of brown sugar/cayanne pepper rub. From there I transfer them to the grill for saucing and grilling... I have a charcoal grill with a side fire box.

I was thinking about skipping the over portion and just tossing them in the grill and buying some apple wood to use in the side fire box. I've never tried this route, and the wife would rather I stuck with what I know since these will be served to guests.

So anyway, I kind of want to see how you guys cook them so I can maybe combine some recipes or just go with one that looks good. As I mentioned earlier, often the ribs are quite good, but they sometimes just miss that little extra 'something'.

Thanks.

*Edit... progress below.

I got 4 racks of ribs and decided to use the grill and smoker as opposed to the oven and grill. We'll see how it turns out... I'll update with pics. 🙂

First, here's my grill and how I set it up.

I bought a 'mixed hardwood' for the smokingn... I didn't have time to go drive to the place that sells better wood.

Ribs just put on the grill for smoking, with a little seasoning.

Wife FINALLY gets home and I slather them with apple sauce... we're about an hour in to the smoking here.

Temp settles around ~210F... I think this is a good temp, anyone care to comment?

Just a pic of the fire through the air restricton thinngamabob.

More pics later... any comments? What should I do to make these ribs great? Thanks!

Sauced.

 

[isekii]

I would boil it first and partially cook it.. before throwing it on the grill

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: isekii
I would boil it first and partially cook it.. before throwing it on the grill

I tried that a number of times, it almost made them artificially tender it seemed... like the texture changed, it didn't seem to be meat anymore. Not a big fan of the boil method.

 

[Gibsons]

Alton Brown

 

[nakedfrog]

I would not ever boil ribs, personally. If you think you can control the temperature, I'd go for the grill.

 

[bignateyk]

Put the ribs in an oven-safe pot covered with BBQ sauce. Cook them for 8 hours at low temperature (like 220 degrees). Once they are done to your liking, take them out and sear them on the grill for just a few seconds on each side.

edit: or you can dry rub them, and sear them first, then toss them in a pot with bbq sauce to cook to tenderness

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: isekii
I would boil it first and partially cook it.. before throwing it on the grill

fail


baby back ribs are tender enough that you can grill them at 275 to 300 until they reach temp (only a couple of hours) and come out fine.

also, smaller rib racks are more tender because they're from younger hogs.

 

[zebano]

I just rub em, then grill them on medium-low heat for about 70 minutes. Coat with BBQ sauce and cook for 5-10 more, remove and enjoy.

 

[Modelworks]

We just cooked a whole hog for my nieces wedding and it took about 6-7 hours. Vinegar + pepper for seasoning and low heat 250F. No boiling or anything done, just tossed it on the grill. Best pork I have had in a long time.

 

[Fritzo]

That's how I cook them- I never put them in the oven first. That ain't bbq! 🙂

Cover them with foil until the wood ashes over though, otherwise they'll be too smokey.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Put the ribs in an oven-safe pot covered with BBQ sauce. Cook them for 8 hours at low temperature (like 220 degrees). Once they are done to your liking, take them out and sear them on the grill for just a few seconds on each side.

edit: or you can dry rub them, and sear them first, then toss them in a pot with bbq sauce to cook to tenderness

Whaaaa? You cook them in the BBQ sauce?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Put the ribs in an oven-safe pot covered with BBQ sauce. Cook them for 8 hours at low temperature (like 220 degrees). Once they are done to your liking, take them out and sear them on the grill for just a few seconds on each side.

edit: or you can dry rub them, and sear them first, then toss them in a pot with bbq sauce to cook to tenderness

Whaaaa? You cook them in the BBQ sauce?

That to me just covers up the flavor of the meat. I use as little spice/sauce as possible.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I would not ever boil ribs, personally. If you think you can control the temperature, I'd go for the grill.

yeah, i usually hate boiled meat.

ive cooked ribs on my smokey joe, its a tiny-ass portable charcoal grill. if i can do it, anyone can do it in a larger unit. i just layered some foil under the rubs and set the coals around the edge to bake them for about 2 and a half hours.

omnomnom, good eats.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Put the ribs in an oven-safe pot covered with BBQ sauce. Cook them for 8 hours at low temperature (like 220 degrees). Once they are done to your liking, take them out and sear them on the grill for just a few seconds on each side.

edit: or you can dry rub them, and sear them first, then toss them in a pot with bbq sauce to cook to tenderness

Whaaaa? You cook them in the BBQ sauce?

Yep, that's how most good rib joints cook them. You think they cook your ribs specially for you? They have a big pot of BBQ sauce slow cooking filled with racks of ribs.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Yep, that's how most good rib joints cook them. You think they cook your ribs specially for you? They have a big pot of BBQ sauce slow cooking filled with racks of ribs.

no, no it isn't.


goddamn yankees have no idea how to cook

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Yep, that's how most good rib joints cook them. You think they cook your ribs specially for you? They have a big pot of BBQ sauce slow cooking filled with racks of ribs.

no, no it isn't.


goddamn yankees have no idea how to cook

yes, yes it is.

You've clearly not been behind the scenes at many BBQ restaurants. I'm sure they dont all do it, but many take that shortcut.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: bignateyk
Put the ribs in an oven-safe pot covered with BBQ sauce. Cook them for 8 hours at low temperature (like 220 degrees). Once they are done to your liking, take them out and sear them on the grill for just a few seconds on each side.

edit: or you can dry rub them, and sear them first, then toss them in a pot with bbq sauce to cook to tenderness

Whaaaa? You cook them in the BBQ sauce?

Yep, that's how most good rib joints cook them. You think they cook your ribs specially for you? They have a big pot of BBQ sauce slow cooking filled with racks of ribs.

Any good rib joint smokes their ribs.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: isekii
I would boil it first and partially cook it.. before throwing it on the grill

NOOOO!!!

Do not do this! You NEVER boil ribs!

Slow cooking ribs at low temperature is excellent. Smoking them would be even better. I prepare a rub, remove the white membrane on the underside of the ribs and then rub the spices into the meat. Put them in a zip lock bag and let the ribs sit in the fridge overnight.

Then slow cook them the next day or smoke them.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Yep, that's how most good rib joints cook them. You think they cook your ribs specially for you? They have a big pot of BBQ sauce slow cooking filled with racks of ribs.

no, no it isn't.


goddamn yankees have no idea how to cook

yes, yes it is.

You've clearly not been behind the scenes at many BBQ restaurants. I'm sure they dont all do it, but many take that shortcut.

I would never eat there.
The good places smoke theres for hours and hours on racks. Sauce is usually provided on the side if you want it.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

yes, yes it is.

You've clearly not been behind the scenes at many BBQ restaurants. I'm sure they dont all do it, but many take that shortcut.

yes i'm sure that big pit that they get the meat out of when you order it is just for show.

 

[dabuddha]

I dry rub my ribs then wrap them up in foil and throw em on the grill. Cook for about 4 hours or so (with some charcoal and cherry wood)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
I dry rub my ribs then wrap them up in foil and throw em on the grill. Cook for about 4 hours or so (with some charcoal and cherry wood)

do you get much wood flavor with the ribs in the foil?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

OMG, rib fail 😛

First, everyone is missing the first step. Brine those suckers. Put them in a water/vinegar/salt solution and keep them cold (adding ice is ok). Soak baby backs for at least 6 hours, and overnight if you can.

How you cook them depends on how much time you have. You can make very good ribs in the oven.
I apply a rub and turn the oven up to 500 and place the ribs in. I turn the heat down after 15 minutes to 325 and cook for about 2 and a half hours. You can do this because you brined them, remember?

My family likes a sauce on them even with the rub and it works well. I put that on during the last half hour.

For the grill you want to cook with indirect heat. If you use a smoker, it will take a lot longer. I usually shoot for 220 degrees. It takes about 6 to 8 hours to do.

 

[Baked]

:music: I want my baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back... :music:

 

[Lothar1974]

Personally, I have a wood pellet smoker to do ribs on. For BBR I do the 2-2-1 method. Set temp to 250 and cook bone down for 2 hours. Then drop temp to 180 and foil ribs for 2 hours. Then put temp back up 250 and and take them off when they reach an internal temp of 200 (about an hour). I usually spray with a 50/50 mix of apple cider / Jack Daniels about every 30 minutes when thier not foiled. I also rub them with mustard and coat with my own meat rub and saran wrap them the night before.


If you dont have a smoker- set your oven to 250 and place ribs on a wire type rack on a cookie sheet or pan. Add some water or beer or whatever you want in the pan, this will allow for extra moisture in the ribs. cook em for roughly 5 hours, or you can do the spatulal test, take a spatula and lift the ribs in the middle with it. If the ribs start to crack and tear when you lift their done or close. if they only bend or seem springy they need more time. Of course it all depends how tender you like ribs. The key for ribs is low and slow! Cooking them slow at a low temp will let the fat render in the meat, which makes them tender as hell. As far as sauce, I add mine after they are cooked, some add sauce the last 10 - 20 minutes of cooking. Be careful though, if your sauce has alot of sugar it can burn easily. Good luck! :thumbsup: